Velvet Revolver

Page Tools

Like a phoenix, Velvet Revolver rose from the self-destructive
ashes of two of the best bands of the late '80s and early '90s. On
Sunday night they proved why they rightly shun the tag "supergroup"
with an exhilarating, over the top rock show.

It's hard to claim you're the most dangerous band in the world
when most of your members are in recovery, but these guys play like
men who know they should be dead, and they're sucking every last
drop out of each opportunity to rock.

Vocalist Scott Weiland (ex-Stone Temple Pilots) made that clear:
"You get one shot at this life, so you might as well participate,"
he urged the crowd in a hit-and-miss motivational speech.

In any other band Weiland would command all the attention. He
struts like the bizarre love child of Mick Jagger, Michael
Hutchence and Perry Farrell, and few hard rock singers could get
away with a fashion ensemble of leather pants, white fluffy shirt,
waistcoat, red tie and airline pilot's cap. He's camp as hell with
a menacing quality.

But then, most vocalists aren't flanked by two of the most
notorious, inimitable musicians in rock, bassist Duff McKagan and
guitarist Slash (formerly of Guns N' Roses, for those who have been
living under a rock) - all tight leather, cigarette smoke and
bad-ass attitude, and never still for a second.

They surged through aggressive tracks like Sucker Train
Blues, Do It For The Kids and Headspace, but
dropping in Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses songs was a
surprising yet brilliant move that proved they are not afraid to
look back while heading forward.

Grinding STP song Crackerman brought the show alive and
Sex Type Thing was a high point, but when they cranked
into the drug-addled GNR tune Mr Brownstone, it was as if
Axl Rose had never existed, Weiland making it his own and injecting
it with renewed venom.

Time, age and substance abuse have definitely not wearied these
guys. More than a star vehicle, Velvet Revolver is the exciting
future of rock'n'roll.